Written by Gary Hayes RAIN STALLS THE ORRELL MOMENTUM It was a Saturday of frustration for Orrell, as along with pretty much all other cricket clubs in the North West of England, rain stopped play. The first team saw the game away at New Brighton called off- when it looked like a delayed start would be possible- due to one further torrential downpour. The second team saw their match at home against Southport and Birkdale called off late morning due to the wet conditions while the third team saw their ‘home’ game (at their temporary base of Haydock CC) and…
Author: Gary Hayes
Written by Gary Hayes A CHAMPION WEEKEND FOR ORRELL It was an exceptional weekend for Orrell’s senior teams culminating in Sam Heeley’s T20 team emerging victorious in the Wigan T20 finals day. On Saturday, Heeley’s first team made the trip to Sefton Park. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Orrell overcame the loss of an early wicket as Andy Baybutt and Richard Everett got the scoreboard moving along through a combination of excellent shot selection and quick running between the wickets. Unfortunately, Everett was out for a well-made 22 when he was the victim of a very sharp…
Written by Gary Hayes CAPTAIN FANTASTIC TO THE FORE AS TILLAKARTANE BAMBOOZLES THE OPPOSITION IN PERFECT WEEKEND FOR ORRELL Orrell’s first team went into their double header home match weekend knowing that it was vital to achieve a significant number of points over the two games in order to make their current league position less precarious. They started on Saturday by welcoming neighbours Wigan to Winstanley Road. Having won the toss, captain Sam Heeley chose to bat on what was an overcast day with the promise of sun later. They did not get off to the best of starts when…
Written by Gary Hayes BATTING WOES RESURFACE FOR ORRELL Orrell’s first team contrived to lose a must win game against visitors Southport and Birkdale on Saturday. Having won the toss and elected to bat first on a scorching hot day at a picturesque Winstanley Road, the visitors must have been confident of posting a large total. However, when Duvindu Tillakaratne struck twice early to leave the visitors on 11-2, it looked like the decision to bat first would backfire. A crucial fourth wicket partnership of 72 between Dinuka Dilshan and league legend Dave Snellgrove steadied the ship for the visitors…
Written by Gary Hayes WET WEEKEND DRAWS TO A CLOSE FOR ORRELL It was a weekend of weather affected draws for Orrell senior teams. On Saturday, Sam Heeley’s first team began the second half of the season with a trip to Rainhill. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Orrell saw opening batters Ammer Mirza and Andy Baybutt get the innings off to a good start before Baybutt was dismissed for 20 to leave the score 40-1. Mirza then found good support from Richard Everett as the Orrell progress continued. Mirza was eventually out (unluckily caught down the leg…
By Gary Hayes DOUBLE SUCCESS FOR ORRELL After a blank weekend due to Covid-19 issues, Orrell’s senior teams resumed matches with a double success. With no first or third team game, it was left to Dave Whiteley’s second team to fly the flag on Saturday when they hosted Bootle CC. Heavy overnight and morning rain put the match in doubt but the Winstanley Road ground recovered remarkably well and the game was able to take place. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Orrell made 199-9 declared from 45 overs. Stuart Craig (43) and Ben Mahoney (42) made the…
Written by Gary Hayes BAYBUTT SEES ORRELL TO FAMOUS VICTORY Orrell’s first team secured a notable victory on Saturday when they welcomed Ormskirk CC to Winstanley Road. Visiting captain Gary Knight won the toss and elected to bat- a decision which looked to be the correct one given the excellent wicket prepared and the hot overhead conditions. Orrell opened their bowling effort with Duvindu Tillakaratne and captain Sam Heeley. Tillakaratne the Sri Lankan first class player continued to do what he has done since his arrival and continually threaten the batters by making them play at every ball by using…
Written by Gary Hayes IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL IT’S OVER It was a Saturday of last over thrillers for both of Orrell’s main teams as both the first and second teams won their matches in the last over of their games. Sam Heeley’s first team made the trip over to the Wirral to play at Wallasey Cricket Club. Having lost the toss, Heeley side were asked to bowl first on a baking hot day. When Duvindu Tillakaratne struck with the second ball of the match to remove danger man Jamie Crawley, it saw a sequence of events that led to…
Written by Gary Hayes UP AND DOWN WEEKEND FOR ORRELL It was a weekend of highs and lows for Orrell’s senior teams. The weekend got underway on Friday evening with the opening match of the Wigan T20 competition at home against neighbours Highfield. In front of a large crowd at a sunkissed, resplendent Winstanley Road, the visitors won the toss and elected to bowl first. Orrell openers Ammer Mirza and Matthew Hayes, got the hosts off to a flying start through a mixture of effective shot selection and quick running between the wickets. When Hayes was stumped for a well-made 20,…
Written by Gary Hayes BATTING WOES FOR ORRELL It was a weekend of poor batting displays from the Orrell senior teams as only one of its teams emerged victorious from the weekend fixtures. Sam Heeley’s first team made the trip to neighbours Leigh bolstered by the debut of Sri Lankan slow left-arm bowler Duvindu Tillakaratne but once again without injured opening quick bowler Josh Fallows. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat and shaded the early exchanges. However, Tillakaratne then struck twice in quick succession including the key wicket of Derbyshire County player Matthew McKiernan. When Cameron Sharp…